New England's normally dour coach stepped out of character Thursday to playfully jab at Johnson, a day after the Bengals wide receiver vowed to wreak havoc on the Patriots' secondary when the teams meet Sunday in Cincinnati.

Johnson specifically pleaded with "Mr. Belichick" to let cornerback Asante Samuel, whom Johnson described as a good friend, cover him one-on-one. "I won't score," Johnson promised. "I'll stop at the one and go out of bounds or something."

"Tell him we'd cover him one-on-one all the time, but he pushes off more than any receiver in the league," Belichick said with a grin. "He must be paying off the officials not to call it, so we're going to have to double-cover him some. ... Not that he can get open."

The Patriots are famous for using opponents' slights -- either real or perceived -- as motivation. But the fun-loving Johnson, a three-time Pro Bowler, seems to get a free pass.

Belichick called him an "entertaining kid" with a "good sense of humor" and said the two have bumped into each other at various offseason functions.

Belichick said he worked out Johnson at USC before the 2001 draft and remembered Johnson, who played at Oregon State, proudly flying his college's flag as he drove onto campus.

House of Steel

09-28-2006, 09:01 PM

I guess this game is going to become a big circus then. :hilarious: I could care less about both of the teams.

BlitzburghRockCity

09-28-2006, 09:19 PM

You know the trash talking it reaching new levels when BB gets into it ! I think that's definately a first for him :eek:

BengalBrian

09-29-2006, 12:06 AM

Yet another article that shows chad's talk is all in good fun.. Maybe someday you guys will get it

suitanim

09-29-2006, 09:41 AM

The fact that a guy who caught one pass for 11 yards last week is even opening his mouth really says it all.

Man, I miss the days of guys like Barry Sanders. No talk, he just left it all out on the field. Class act, and the antithesis of these punks today.

SteelerFan87

09-29-2006, 10:13 AM

We all know Chad is joking. That's why Porter didn't kick his *** before the game. Every time he says stuff, and they ask the Steelers' players about it, they all laugh and say it's Chad and he's just joking.

Anyway, I don't know how Belichick is going to double cover Chad, when he has so few capable DBs, and he'll just burn them anyway even if he is double covered. The Pats pass D is pathetic.

I was talking about this on a bengals site. Here's what one bungle fan said:
"That's a mighty fine article, I must say. Old Bill has a little bag of jokes in his pocket, apparently."